Delay-action sttsb



F. D. SPHAGUE AND P. W. ALLISON.

DELAY CTION FUSE` nwucmou man uct* s. wu.

Patented June 15, 1920.

INVENTORS F RANK DESMOND SPR/@GUE z PHILIP WHALLEYALUSON A TTORNE YS `F.D. SPRAGUE AND P. W. ALLISON.

DELAY ACTION FUSEl APPLxcmoN man oc1.s.1911.

Patented J une 15, 1920.

SSHEElS-Sntil 2.

FRANK DESMOND SPR/4G05 PHIL/P WHALLE;y ALL/SON Arrow/frs F. D. SPRAGUEAND P. W. ALLISON.

DELAY ACTION FUSE.

E 0 wm 2 A5 wm mw D SSA 5H D" 1J. mDY mn mmm un NML JW /MY ma DWH n KP mMM P rm m M w m m m F TTORNE YS uooopoo 1000- orme AGCELEMTV F. D.SPRAGUE AND P. W. ALLISON.

DELAY ACTIUN FUSE.

Awucmou mw ocT.s.|s1r.

Patented June 15, 1920.

|900- TfCKNESS OF PLATE.

noo 1F? 1500- Acc. (VEG zoo- DISTA NGE.

VEL ocrrr IHVFNTUBS FRA/.vx bes/10h10 sPRAGc/E PHILIP WHA/.LEY ALL/souF. D. SPRAGUE AND P. W. ALLISON.

DELAY ACTION FUSE.

APPLRCATIUN FILED OCT. 5.191I- 1,343,415 Patented June 15,1920n SQ. /M

PISTON TRAVEL /N INCHES.

88 PHIL/P wHALLEYALL/SON 85 H Fil/4T INVENTORS UNITED ASTATES PATENTOFFICE.

mism; 4niisiiiomisrnneuii nun Pinna' WHALLEY ALLIsoN, on New YORK, N. Y.

- through unerinored parts To all whom tmc? concern.'

Be it known t iat'we Fiumi Drisiuonn Semoun' und Pmnir' l meer ALLIsoN,

`citizens of then United Stetes of America., `sind residents of thecityof New York, State of New York, have, invented certain new und usefulImprovements in lDeler-Aoction Fuses, ofV which the following is o.specificeton.

This invention Arelates to delay-action fuses for use in connection withprojectiles. It is es eciall adapted to armor-piercing projecti es an itis in connection with this type of proectile that the invention will beherein specifically described, but it is to be understood that this ismerely for convenience sind that the fuse'has c'wide adeptebility by nomeans confined -to ermor piercing work.

With this imderstanding', some of the mein difficulties ofermor-'piercing shells should be s. ipreciated in order that the spelcial adepte ilit of this invention thereto me be compre iendcd. A11armor-piercin Vshe'l to be most effective against person-ne or e uipmentshould explode in the .interior of ille armored inclosure of which cnarmored vessel is the most common example. The armor-plete employed onarmored vessels 'is of rar in 'thicknesses sind the retardetion'oit vsell by the a-i'riior is oo rrespondingly varia-ble. ime fuses, or. fusesoperctingonthe principle of e'succession of interior cx lesions, erenwhei'i in. -erfect condition' inve .fililedfto giiesetsi nctoryresult-s.` f 'the errno '-plute i s light und the velocity of. the shell1i h it mairpsisspie tirelythrough the resse before' exploding. piercing.the armor-plate on both sides of the ressel or its course may bedeflected lifter entering the vessel'Y l#so that vit passes out `beforeexploding,

` 'orso that it ex lodes infn crt ofthe res sel'4 where the. estructive'e ect of the cx-V plosion iscionipnritirely sligl'i't.'

But: fuses of 'the successive interiorexplosiens 'nid- 'iiiis-neietypesy sie mejiyin perfetct condition fdii'e to 'powder'fdeterioretiomThe consetaieiit impossibility |of predetel'niining t e tiinegof theexplosion, lifter its intiitin cause liusbeen actuated, adds vadditional c ineratedt' b V This invention cime to 'iliculties tothose". above enu- Specitletcii o! Letters Potent. immuun inea ,octobers, 191i'.y semi No. l11mm'.

y 'onderstreepte-'ui' jties above outlined, and those -of similarPatented Ju ne 15, 1920.

character, by assuring theexplosion of the proJectile within ii neglgibe time efter penetration, the construction of the fuse also rendersprojectiles equipped therewith also especiellydestructive aUiiinstenrthworks and buildings, whether fired from guns or niortars or whetherlaunched from aeroplanes or the like.

When e projectile strikes en armor-plete, its ifelocity is suddenlydiminished, and. it continues to decrease :is the projectile proce'eclson its Way through the plete ;'but upon Y pierci the plate theprojectile continues ot si ve ocity substantially uniform though lowerthan that on impact particularly if the armor plo-te is henry. l`hedeceleration on impact accor-din ly jumps to i high figure; it remainsvgirly constant during penetration, und as the projectileemerges.cecrenses to its originel value of slghtl)y above zero. During flightthere is of course n` falling ofi of veloci@r due to air resistance butthe rute is slight in coiiipzirisoii with the deceleration on impact andduring penetration. If the projectile fails to ierce the ermor-phite andits diminished re octy is'reduced tozero therein, the deceleration atthis pointnlso drops to zerm It isupon the chore outlined decreaseofdeceleriition that the operation of our fusedepends.

The ini-ention in its preferred form 4embraces means for storing upenergy iii e resilient medium on impact, which energy on decrease ofdeceleration' is exerted to moves purto tliefuse into exploding contactwith a detonator whereby the fuse is exploded and the projectile chargedetonated.

'The creation of this energ is brought about 28 28; filling-apertures 2929 being provided for the introduction and compression of the charge,the fillin apertures bein quently closed wit wax. The hoc at the rearLportion of the booster-charge c embers is re uced in thicknessexternall as at 30 so as'to insure fracture at this p ace for detonatingthe booster-oharge as hereinafter described.

A. hollow sleeve 31 of general cylindrical shape is mounted in the body23 an is adapted for forwardmotion therein. It is ro vided with acircumferential flange 82 w ich normally abnts against an annularshoulder 38 in the body, formed at the rear of an enlarged cylindricalportion therein. The for ward part of the sleeve in advance of thecircumferential flange is of a general conical contour being slightlytapered externally toward the front.

A detonator 35 is firmly mounted upon `the rear end of the sleeve and isnormally positioned in the safety-chamber. The detonator is preferablyof the usual compressed fulminate-ofmercury type and may includea primer37 suitably mounted in advance of the detonator at the rear of thesleeve. A No. 2% Winchester primer is an illustration of a suitableprimer for this purpose and has been used by us with success ul results.The diameter of the detonator is slio'htly smaller than that of the boreof the bo y 23 lso that it can be drawn forward therein without binding.

The sleeve is pierced by a series of radial opem'n s 39 39 in which arecarried clutchlugs ustrated as balls .4.0 40. A suitably pointedfiring-pin@ of slightly less diameter than the interior of the sleevefor clearance extends therein and is normally maintain in the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 in rela.- ton to the sleeve b-means of an annularroove 42 in which e balls are maintained y the inner walls of thatportion of the body normallyr opposite them. The diameter of the head ofthe firing-pin to the rear of the groove is slihtly greater than that ofthe remainder o the pin to the front of the groove. The diameter of theenlarged ortion of the body in advance of the shou der 33 is such thatwhen the balls are brought opposite thereto they may be forced outwardto clear the said groove 1n front and release the firing-pin forrelatively rearward move ment in the sleeve see Figs. 5 and 6); but theenlarged head o the mg-pin prevents the latter from being drawn orwardont of the sleeve, permitting the balls to fall' into the space'betweenthe liringpin and the detonator.

e A piston 44 is suitably mounted on the forward end of the firing-pin.The piston is hollow at the rear and if desired is further lightened bva series of apertures 45 45, and it is slightly crowned on its forwardface snbseto prevent its bearing edges from becoming upset. Itreciprocates in a hollow cylinder .lfi, which is screwed on the forwardortion of the body 23 diametrically reduced or this purpose, and forms aclose iit therein so that the s ace between the face of the piston andthe orward end of the cylinder forms an air chamber. Escape of airtherefrom may be 'further deterred by a film of oil between the pistonund the cylinder if found necessary. The sleeve 31, tiring-pin 41 andpiston 44 are normally locked in their rear position by the followingmeans:

In the forward end of the body 23 which is slightly enlarged internallyfor this pur- Jose is firmly mounted a hollow lock-carrier 8 which is ofa general cylindrical contour and through which extends the firing-piu.It is pierced by a plurality of radial apertures 49 49, two beingillustrated diametrically opposite each other, in which are held acorresponding plurality of loclrinc-lugs 50 50, normally pressedinwardly llay a sprin -riir 51, but adapted to more outward y unc er thenotion of a proper amount of centrifugal force. The firing-pin is formedwith an annular groove 53, preferably square shouldered, which in thenormal position is in line with the apertures 4:9 49 and into which thelugs 50 50 are pressed in locking engagement as above indicated.

The lock-carrier extends forwardly from its locking apertures landnormally abuts against the rear interior face of the piston, itsinterior being slightly dared outwardly. The rear of the lock-carrier ismade in the form of a cylindrical chamber of a diameter slightly inexcess of that of the forward portion of the sleeve 31 for clearance.

A retarding-ring 55 of cop )er or similar liable metal is mounted at therear of the ook-carrier and held thereby against an annular shoulder 56in the forward portion of the body 23. The retardingring is beveledinternally toward the rear and its exterior diameter is slightly lessthan that of the body opposite thereto, its interior beveled portionbeing of dimensions corresponding with the middle third of the conicalportion of the sleeve 3l so that the sleeve on Sli entering theretarding-ring must expand it Y dimensions that when the circumferential40 are released as above indicated from` loclrin engagement with theannular ries 42 oft 1e firing-pin but not until the pin has been movedfrom the possible ra of the detonator on its forward trarre?? and nallyso that the perxniible. forward piston travel isless than Vthe forwardsleeve travel, with .the result that the annular groove 42 will then besuiiiciently at the rear of the radial openius 39.39 for thelocking-lugs or balls 40 l sides of the drin -pin, with the pointed endof the letter at t 1e desired distance infront of the primer 37. lThislatter characteristic, however, is o tional and not essential to theunlocking o the two members;

The operation of the fuse above described will now be discussed:

When a projectile in which the fuse is mounted is fired or launchedthere is no rearward movement of any of the parts due tothe setback. Thestress of the setback on the sleeve 31 is borne by the shoulder 33 andcircumferential flange 32, and that on the lr' -pin and piston b theforward end of e lock-carrier agamst which the rear face of theaforesaid.

YThe centrifu altype oflocl: herein shown is'es eciullya ted forgun-propelled projecti es, bei re eased by the rapid rotation of' theproje ile on its axis due to the riliin of the gun barrel. In the formillustrate the locking-lugsby reason of their op ositedisposition assurethe locking of the ringpin against accidental release, as the outwardmovement of either one alone does not unlock the filing-pin. Ubvouslythis result is not de endent upon employi merely tivo lockingugsoppositely dispos They further aure against accidental discharge on anose drop such asmight occur in transportation and handlil. U Q

Upon firing e projectile the lockinglugsO il-move outwardly deforruinthe spring-ring `151 into" an ov shape en assuming the positionindicated 1n Figs. 5 and 6 duri Hight, and thus release the firing-pin.Plne unlocking ofthe firing-pin is Vthe only relativel movement Yofparts during "flight, exce tfor a slight forward creep ofthepiston,)firing-pin, and sleeve, due to the small retardation caused by airresistto rest on the piston norlnally shuts as:

nessus ance. This Asfsoo'n balanced by the increase of ressure in'thecylinclen on or as a. result of impact of the project e with the`ob'ect struck and the retardation occasione thereby the sleeve 31,firing-pin 414 and piston 44, use their in. ertia, plunger forward-inthe fuse. The piston-compresses the air in the chamber in advancethereof and comes to rest at or nearfthe inner end of the cylinder 46.The sleeve 31 travels with the piston and the forward tapering end Wedes into the retarding-ring expancling e same and retarding the movementof the sleeve to cushion the blow on the detonator and revent prematureexplosion, but because o? the sleeves longer path of travel than thepiston, its forward movement continues and the locking-lugs or halls`el() 40now inside the ini wardl expanded portion of the body, ride out`o `the annular groove 42, thereb unlocking the sleeve and ring-pin, anperrnittingthe sleevekto advance `until it seats against thereterclin'g-ring with the lugs or balls resting on the sides of thefiring-pin as aforesaid.

Continuing the illustration with an armor-piercingprojectile andreferring to Fic. 15, it is there seen that as the project-i c strikesand penetrates the armor-plate its velocity drops fairly uniformly fromabout 1700 ft. per second to 300 ft. per second, and that thedeceleration Iof the shell goes from sli htly above zero toapproximately 1, 0,000 ft. per second where it remains durin thepenetration of the armor-plate, these ures beingbssed on calculation andexperiment with" a twelve-inch projectile fired with a. standard chargevthrough a twelve-inch armor-plate, and being of course employed forillustrative Vconvenience only. Further, that upon the projectileemerging from the plate, itV resumes a substantially imiform velocity ofabout 300 ft. per second,

and its decelerationinstantly drops 4to its ori inal value of slightlyabove zero.

uring this drop 1n velocity the inertia of the piston 44 'keegsit itsforward osition against the-e ort ofthe compresse air to force itrearwardly. As soon, however, ns the projectile on piercing thearmor-plate resumes a uniform velocity, or on failing to pierce thesame, comes to rest therein, the deceleration, and consequently theforward inertia of the piston, drops off, whereupon the compressed airin advance of the .piston forces the piston and ring pin rearwardly andthe Errug pin explodes the! rimer' 3?. It will be remembered that the`lminateof-mercury detonator is at this time Brmly ,held against rearwardmotion by the friction between @the -retarding-ring and the taperiforward end-of the sleeve 31. (See iig'. GA The explosion of the primergnites 'the same as in the construction of the fulmiuate oi mercury inthe detonator 35, causin its ex lesion which in turn bursts the inner wals of the booster-char chamber at the reduced portions 3Q 30 ignitingthe booster-charge, which on explosion bursts the inclosing metallicshell 26 and detonates the main explosive charge of the projectile. A

In the case of a. thin armor plate where the drop of velocity of theprojectile is slight, 1t should readil be seen that the movable parts ofthe use may not have moved forward to their arming position until s.fraction of time after the projectile has assumed a substantiallyuniform velocity after penetration. But the forward movement of theparts during ilight, heretofore referred to, by lessening the distanceof travel of the parts after impact cuts down this delay.

Further discussion of the theory of operation is postponed until themodifications illustrated in Figs. S to 13 have been presented.

In Figs. S to l2 it will be observed that the fuse generally and many ofthe artslare to 6, and the same reference numerals le accordinglapplied. The body 123 of the fuse-mec anism contains seme modificationsover the correslzidin part 23 in the revous fi ares. e fi ing apertures2 29 for theester-charge are omitted and instead the rear ortion of thebody which extends into an reinforces the safety-chamber is made in twoparts, comprising an outer Banged sleeve 60 screwedl onto the rearreduced portion 61 of the fuse-body. These parts are assembled after thebooster-charge has been packed in the booster-charge chamber andadditional facilities for equally pakng thc booster-charge are therebypro- "1(0 Furthermore the booster-char chamber 127 differs from theplurality o chambers of the preceding res in that the reinforcin rib's125 12 of the fuse 'bodyare taperec charge is continuous. around thechamber and will be simultaneously detonated under all conditions.

The reduced ortions of the fuse-body 130 130 are made hter than in theprevious case and the detonator 35 carries a' larger quantit voffulminate of mercury. This 1nsures tie bursting of the reduced portionsof the fuse-body on the explosion of the detonator in case thebooster-charge is packed extraordinarily hard.

The firing-pin 141 is not locked against forward motion in respect tothe sleeve 31 by the lugs or balls 40 4U, but is cnt away at the rear ofthe balls as at 62 so as to be free therefrom. The balls are preventedforwardly so that the lziooster` from dropping inwardly in case of thewithdrwnl o the ringin by the radial openings 139 139 in the eeve 31being partially closed on the inside. (See Fig. 11.) This modificationis chiefly of importance in assembling.

The piston 144 is made without the lightenng aoertures 45 45 and isotherwise considerab y heavier than that of the previous figures. Thecylinder 146 differs only in providing clearance for the locking meanswhich are also somewhat altered in construction though not in function.

The lock-carrier 148 is not dared at the front and conse uently o'ers alarger abutting surface to e rear of piston for taking u the setback onthe piston and firing-pin.

e cavity at the rear oi the lock-carrier is of a slightly less depththan in the case of the reviens construction so that the forwarc ta eredend of the sleeve 31 seats against t e bottom of the cavity at the sametime that the annular flan e 32 seats against the retarding-ring 55 on tc forward movement of the sleeve. This construction is intended toobviate any possible crushing of the retardingwing at that time.

The lock-carrier is provided with two circumferential flan es 64 64 inline with the respective edges o the locking-lug e. ertures 4:9 49.These are slotted diametrica y as at 65 65 and afford a mountin meansfor two heut leaf-springs 67 67, w -lich are located between the flangesand which are provided with lugs 68 68 that lic in the slots 65 65.These leaf-springs are compressed and are kept in engagement with thelocking-lugs 50 50 by means of a flanged metallic ring 70 which isplaced over the circumferential flanges 64 Gel and maintained inposition when the loclccarrier is screwed home by the flange of the rinheld between the rear Ilan e 64 and the ront end of the fuse-body- Tiesquare-shouldered annular groove 53 in the iiringin of the previousconstruction is also c an d. The iringin is reduced in size in ine withthe loc 'mg-lugs,

and sli htly to the rear thereof is considerably e arged as at 72, theenlarged portion being square-shouldered and aifording additionalstrength against shearing on accidental nose-drop. The reduced portionof the firing- )in extends somewhat to the front of the loclrins-lugswhere it flares ont into u flange 73 which abnts against the rear of thepiston. Extending the reduced portion beyond the locking-lugs in thismanner assures against jamming of the lugs by the setback.

The general operation of the construction of Figs. 8 to 12 docs notdiffer materially from that of the construction of Figs. 1 to 6 and willbe readily understood without repetition.

' against the inner face of the cylinder 46 which is provided with e.plunger-stop 82. The function of the coiled ,spring is the seme as thatof the compressed oir end its operation is similar, except that therewill be less creepege forward of the fuse ports during iii t. Itiscompressed on or as o result of impact'ly the movable parts due to theirinertie en is released after arming when the velocity of the movableperte become the seme' as that of theY projectile. In of henvy'erlnor'plete this will take place' when the A,velocity of the projectile afterimpact assumes n substantially 'constent velue or'beoomes zero: Iny easeof s thin armor plete the'ermingmey be slightly delayed. v

Continuin now with the interrupted dis- 4cueeion of t e operation of ourinvention, the forces which determine the operstionof the piston toe'ect the compression of the resilient member and e. rearward-stroke ofthe piston to cause en explosion nre illustreted in Fi .16. The e soissrepresent the-travel o the piston from its originel position inthirty-seconds of en inch. The ordinates represent respectivelyr theeffective pressures in pounds per square inch develo d in the resilientmedium (specifically air) by the piston on ts'forwerd' stroke, end thework in foot-pounds done on the seid medium bythe piston. Disregnrdinthe elfeots of friction, this muy also be seid t0 represent the work.done by the resilient medium on the piston during the return strokethereof. In determiningthese curves the diameter of the piston waseunied as one inch, with a maximum possible travel or' 'of un inch.

is ligure shows clearly that the further the piston moves on its orwnrdstroke, the higher will he the ,resultant4 rassure in the chamber endthegreater w' be the work done on the resilient medium. Consequently thefurther the piston nxoi'es` forward the greater will be its strikingenergy on the return stroke. It has been experimentally determined thatthe work necessary-to pierce the teprimer ebove mentioned is approxi'-ma. y .5 foot-pound; hence'it .is necessary to drive the pistonf'orwerde distance of et east H- of en inch to secure this result.

The distance that the piston will be driven forward .depends upon theforward inerti-u force set up therein, which in turn depends both uponthe deceleretion of the projectile upon impact and during penetration,and upon the-weight of the piston. Hence if it is desired to make thefuseextremely sensitive, so that it will function citer impact with verythin plating, with consequently slight deceleration, this may beaecompiished by provi e comperetivel heavy piston, in order tol evelop agreater orwerd inertie 'force u one. given deceleration corresponding withat `in hund. Such e piston is illustrated in s. 8 und 14. If on thecontrer it is d to Ineke thefuse comperatve y insensitive, so that itwill be exploded onl by penetrating armor-plete of considere lethickness, e comparatively light piston muy be employed.

An exam 'le of a. cese wherein un insensitive fuse might be extremelyvaluable would be in conjunction with a. mortar projectile used in coastdefense work. This projectile descends .upon the deck of u ship et enextremely high en le. The vitels of e, ship, such 'es engines, oilersend ma. ezines iure carried below e .protective deck o comparotiyelyhesvy plating situated et or near the water line. beve this are otherdecks of much Ii hter planting. Ifu sensitive inse were y' in ,this t peof projectile the lutter would be explod shortly after penetration ofthe first light deelt` and conse uently onlyfregments ofthe rojectilewoulr reach the heavy rotectivel t eck without. penetretion thereo If,however, u, comparatively insensitive fuse is employed, the projet-.tilewill beexploded only after 'passing through the heavy protective decksind hence the explosion will occur in the `vite-is of the shipwhereitse'ect would be g'rcmtest.l

Furthermore, it will he seen from en inspectionof Fig. .'lrthnt `if stany time the deceleration during penetration decreased very gradually,the forward inertia force in 4the piston would be correspondinglydecreased und hence the pressure of the resilient medium would maintainitself constantly equal toV thisdecreasing inertie force. The result ofthis wouldl be that the piston und -firin -piny would be eesed backwardimtil the n .pin rested u on the primer with out exp onion thereo Thiscontingency, which is unusual, would probably crise when the objectpenetrated Vis of such 'character es to offer progressivel decreesinresist- :mee to the projectile. t muy be tu. een care 01": bysuchezconstruction as Vis illustrated in n Figf 14, which illustrates theforward portion of the construction of Figs, 8 to 12, the apiston- 144is shown withv n circumferentil groove in which is l'llaedN eroundsectioned piston-ring-86, which 4is s lit und possesses e certainernount of e asticity.

- annu 1er therewith. The depth of this When the piston is in its normalposition, the one illustrated, the piston-rin engages a shallow annularand preierab y rounded groove 87 formed on the interior of the cylinder146. Another and much dee er Q roove 88, also preferably roun ed, 1ssituate in the interior of the cylinder at such a point that when thepiston is-at its maximum forward position, indicated by the broken line89', the piston-ring will engage oove is slightly less vthan the radiusof t 1re-section of the piston-rin This construction will operate asfollows: When the projectile is red, the pistonring remains seated inthe shallow groove 87, thereby preventingl the pieton from creepingforward in Hight ue tothe slight dece tion of the projectile caused byair resistance. As the ove 87 is extremely shallow, however, it o ersonly slight resistance to the forward movement of the piston upon impactwith an obstacle. Upon impact the piston is forced fully forward, andthe piston-ring engaes with the deep groove 88 thus lockin he pistonagainst rearward creeps. t this time the forward inertia force o thepiston will balance the air pressure, but as the deceleration grows lessthis inertia force correspondm ly decrease. When the derence' between heforward inertia force and the pressure of the resilient medium hasreached a certain predetermined amount, dependent in part on theresiliency of the piston-rin and the curvature o1* bevel of the rear aceof the groove 88, the resulta-nt rearward Ipressure will force thepiston-ring from t e groove 88 into the groove 85 and release tbepiston, which then plu to the rear under full head of the resilientmedium and pierces the primer,

causing explosion of the fuse.

illustrated in It will be observed that the locking means 16 do notinterfere with the operation o the fuse under what may be considerednormal conditions, i. e., those in whichV the projectile eitherpenetrates armor-piedel or other defensive obstacle or is brought torest therein, under fairly uni- .form decelerationv prior to piercin orstopage, in the event of either of w ich there 1s an abrupt drop indeceleration. In case the initial `deceleration has notfbeen sailicientto bring about a maximum forward travel and locking of the pistonobviously the :looking means, except in-so far as they prevent creepingdurin flight, are inert and may be disregarded. n case the'piston ismoved to its forward limit. of travel, the reduction of deceleration dueto complete penetrationV or stoppage of the projectile will cansethereso tant rearward rassure on the piston to become so large' at thepiston is at once released.

'The' -foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstandin and no undue limita-tion should be deduce( therefrom, butthe ap ded claims should be construed as bros y as permissible in viewof the rior art.

What vwe c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

,1. In a. fuse for a high explosive projectile, the combiimtion oi: a.booster charge o firing element embodying a detonator for causing theexplosion of the booster charge and brought into action by a decreaseor' t 1e deceleration of the projectile, means whereby the booster charand detonntor are normally maintained 1n a. non-explosive relation, andmeans for establislin explosive relation between the booster c arge anddetonator prior to said action of the firing element.

2. In a. fuse :for a high explosive projectile, the combination ci abooster charge a firing clement embodying a detonator for causing theexplosion of the booster charge and comprising a member moved to eifectthe said explosion by a decrease of the deceleration of the projectile,means whereby the booster charge and detonntor are normali maintained ina non-explosive relation, an means for establishi explosive relationbetween the booster clar and dotonator prior to said movement o saidmember.

3. In a fuse for a high explosivo projectile, the combination et' abooster charge, relatively movable ooperating members one of whichembodies a detolmtor for causing the explosion of the booster charge,said members being brought int-o copcrativc relation to effect saidexplosion by a decrease of the deceleration of thc projectile, meanswhereby the booster charge and detonator are normally maintained in anon-explosivo relation, and moa for establishing explosive relationbetween the booster charge and detonator prior to a, firing movement ofsaid members.

4. In a fuse for n hi rh explosive projectile, the combination o abooster charge a rin element emhodyin a detonator for causing theexplosion of le booster charge, said tiring element beingr brought intooperative osition by the deceleration of the lrolilec e on impact with,an object during 'g t, means for effecting a movement thereof to causesaid explosion dependent in operation unonthe character of the saidobject, Ineens w crehy the booster char and detonator are normallymaintains in a nonexplosive relation, and means for establishingexplosive relation between the booster charge and detonator prior tosaid movement.

5. In a fuse for a, h' h explosive projectile, the combination o abooster charge, a ring element comprising a detonator and a ring pinnormally interloclced therewith for causi tbe explosion of the boostercharge, sai p iiringelement beinactuated on a d 'of deceleration of eprojectile to canse said e losion and means `for restraining the 'on ofthe firing element prior to a. predetermined decrease of deceleration.

6. In a fuse :for a high explosive projec-l tile, the' combination o abooster char ,la detonstcrfor causing the explosion o the boostercharge, a member movable foreffecting said explosion, means including eresilient element Yener on impact with an obstacle Aduring flig tforcausing a subsequent irin movement of said member, means where y thebooster .char and detonstorcre normally maintain in e nonexplosiverelation, and means for establishing explosive relation betweenfthebooster charge and detonator prior to said firing movement.

'i'. In a fuse for a l'iigh explosive projet tile, the combination o abooster charge a detonator for causing the explosion o tbe boostercharge, a detonator carrier, a member movable said member being normallyinterloc with the detonator carrier and released therefrom after impactwith an obstacle' during Hight, means including a resilient elementenergized on said impact for causings'. subsequent firing' movement ofsaid 'member and means for restraining such movement o said member priorto a predetermined decrease of deoe eration.

48. In aV fuse for a h'fli explosive projectile, the combination c abooster char a detonator for causing the explosion o the booster charge,a member movable to a siton re arator to a movement there for eectingsaid losion means operative on deceleration of t e rojectile due 'toimpact with an obstacle uring flight to effect the preparatory movementof said member, s resilient element to resist said movement and toeffect reversal in the direction thereof whereby the said explosion isbrought about, means whereby the booster charge' and detonator arenormally maintaine in a ncnexplosive relation, and means forestablishing explosive relation between the booster charge and detonatorprior to the tir-mg movement of said member.

9. In a fuse. for a hi h explosive projectile, the combination o abooster chare .a detonator for causing the explosion o tlie boostercharge a detonator carrier, a Iirin liy an member norma. yinterlockedtherewit released after impact with an obstacle during flight, and meansoperative on decelera-Y tion o the projectile due to said impact forplacing the fuse in condition for subsequent movement of the firingmember for e'eoting said explosion, said means comprising` s re- -tionof a ring member or eiiectixig the said explosion the projectile;

silient medium compressed during suoli deceleration.

10. In a fuse for a projectile, tlie combina` and means operative ondeceleration `of the projectile'due to impact with an obstacle duringlitA for placingthe firing member, in condi ion for subsequent movementthereof for iirng, said means compris'in c piston' operatively connectedvvitlitlieY ring-member, and a linder in which the piston is carried andivliich permits reciprocal motion of the piston therein, thecylinderbe'ing normally under atmospheric pressure and being closed atone end and'cooperating with the piston to form a com ression chamber.

11. n a' fuse for a'high explosive projectile, the combination of abooster char e, a detonetor for causing the explosion o the boostercharge and normally in nonex losive relation therewith,rmeans aotuate onimpact of the projectile duringV Hight with an obstacle occaeioningdeceleration thereof for placing the fuse in' operativo condition, andmeans for ei'ectingthe said explosion on the subsequent decrease ofdeceleration of 12. `In a fuse fora h explosive projectile, tbecombination o means actuated on impact ofthe projectile during flightwith an objectoccasioning deceleration thereof for` laoingthe fuse inoperative condition, locking means whereby explosion ofthe fuse islievented rior to said impact, and means ein 'dying a 4oost/er chargeand apdetonator therefornormall l in noli-explosive relation therewithfor e ecting the explosion of Athe fuse on a subsequent decrease ofdeceleration.

13. In a fuse :For a high explosive projectile, the combination o abooster char e, a detonator for causing the explosion of e boostercharge and normally 1n non-explosive relation'therewith, a membercapable of longitudinal movement in the fuse and movab e fbrwsrdly on imect of the projectile, means energized y said 'forward movementof themember to move it rearwardly by reason of a subsequent decrease ofthedeceleration of a projectile whereb the said explosion is brought aboutan means for establisbi explosive relation between the booster c gaanddetcnator prior to said irin movement.

14. In a fuse r a l1 explosive projectile,tbe combination-o aboosterchar .a detonator `for causing `the explosion of e booster chargeand normallyin nonexplo- Vsive relation therewith a part coacting withthe deton ator and capable of movement relative in respect thereto afterimpact of the projectile, means placed under compression by movement ofone of the said parts upon a reduction of velocity of the projectile onimpact and causing retrograde movement of such, part by reason of asubsequent decrease of deceleration of the projecti'lc whereby the saidelplosion is brought about, and means for est lisliing' explosiverelation between the booster charge and detonator prior to said r'movement.

, 15. In a fuse for a h explosive projectile, the combination o abooster char e, a detonator for causing the lesion of e booster chargeand normally in non-explosive relation therewith, a member capable 'offorward movement in respect to the projectile on the reduction of thevelocity there of on impact, means for resisting such relative forwardmovement of the member and converting the kinetic energy thereof intoener serving to move the member rearwar y by reason of a snbse `nentdecrease of deceleration of the projecti e whereby the vsaid explosionis brought about, and means for establishing explosive relation betweenthe booster charge and detonator prior to said firing movement.

16. In a fuse for a hifgh explosive projectile, the combination o abooster char a detonator for causing the lesion of e booster charge andnormally in non-explosive relation therewith, a member movable in resect to the rojectile on deceleration thereo and move le in a reversedirection in respect thereto to effect the said explosion by reason of asubsnent decrease of deceleration of the rojec e, and means forestablishing explosive relation between the booster charge and detonatorprior to said firing movement.

17. In a fuse for a hi explosive projectile, the combination o a boosterchar a detonator for causing the extglosion of e booster cli and acarrier erefor, a firing in, sai detonator carrier and irin piii, eiligmovable forwardl on impact o the projectile, means for hol 'ng one ofsaid members in its forward position, and means for snbsuently causingretiograde movement of e other member after impact for eifeotii4 saidexplosion. Y

18. a fuse for aagoroiectile, the conibiiiatioii Iwith a deton r and itscarrier, of a relatively movable rinpm, a look normally connectin theparte r movement toether in. one irectioii, and means for reeasinthelock after 19. n a fuse, the combination ofa detonator, a detonatorcarrier, a relatively movable firing pin tberein, means positioned. inone of these parts, and means coperating therewith for preventing firingengagement of the detonator and firingv pin prior to a predeterminedrelative movement of the Said means.

20.-'In a fase for a projectile, the oombination with a detonator. andits carrier,

of a relatively movable firing pin means positionedjn one of these ertsor pre ventingtring engagement o the detonator and firing pin prior to apredetermined movement of the said parte in the same direction, andmeans for thereafter releasing said parte for firing engagement afterimgect.

1. `In a fuse, the combination of a detonator a detonator carrier, of arelatively movable firing pin therein, means positioned 1n one of theseparts, and means coperatin therewith for preventing firing engagemen oi'the detonator and firing pin prior to a predetermined relative movementof the said means and resilient means for thereafter bringuig about saidengagement.

22,. In a fuse, the combination of a detonator and its carrier, arelatively movable firing in, means positioned in one of these parts 'orpreventing firin engagement of the detonator and firing pin rior to apredetermined movement of sai-` parts in the same direction, resilientmeans compressed by said movement, and means for thereafter releasingthe detonator carrier and firing pin for Fir-ing en gement, said tiringengagement being rought about by said compressed resilient means.

.23. In a fuse, the combination with a detf onator and its carrier, of arelatively movable firing pin, a lock normally connecting the parte formovement to ther in one directioii, and means ,for re easing the lockafter a piedetermned conjoint movement of the connected parts.

24. In a fuse for a projectile, -the combination of a detonator and itscarrier, a

relatively movable firing pin, a lock between the parts, and meansactuated by impact of the projectile with an obstacle during Iiight forreleasin 'the lock.

.25..111 a se for aprojectile, the combination of a. detonator and itscarrier, a. tiring in relatively movable in respect to the de noter, alock between the carrier and the rinfhpin whereby contact of the firingpin wi the detonator is prevented on impact of the projectile, and meansfor subsequently rele such lock to permit the explosion ofthe etonator.

26. In a fuse fora high explosive projectile, the combination of abooster charge1 a detonator, locking means for normally main taining thedetonator in a osition of safety 27. In a fuse fora highexplosive'projectile, the combination of a' booster charge, a cletonatornormally positioned in a place of safet in respect toA the booster ch e,a movnb e member connected therewith or moving the detonator intooperative position, a stop for controllin the movement of the saidmember and ho ding the same in said operative position, and a rinmechanism for the detonator ener 'ze b deceleration of the projectile,an move le to effect an explosion on a subsequent decrease ofthedeceleration of the projectile. 28. In e. fuse the combination with a.detonator normally ositioned in a lace of safety, of a. mem connected.lt erewith for lmoving the detonator into operative po sition, a stop forthere arresting the said member, a relativel movable firing a stop forarresting t e movement o e ring pin, means for' normally locking themovable member and firin pin for movement together, and meansJ1-releasing the same uipon n. predetermined conjoint movement t ereofand prior to the arrest of the firing in. i A

29. n a fuse, the combrnatlon with a clotonator normally positioned vina place' of safety, of a member eonneotedtherewith lfor movingtliecletonator into operative position, a stop for there arresting the saidmember, a relatively movableV iirn pin, e stop for arresting themovement of e firing pin prior tothe arrest of the detonator, means fornormally locking the movable member and Bring pin for movement together,and means for releasingthe some upon conjoint movement thereof and priorto the arrest of the liring pm.

30. In a fuse for a projectile, the combination with a detonatorcarrier'and a pin movable lengthwise of the fuse, o means for locking the parteto ther for forward movement on impact of t e arojectile and releasingsuch parts from eac other on such movement, and means Afor holding oneof the parte' against movement rearwardl after im ect. j

, forward movement on impact o the Y 31.` `n a fuse or a projectile, thecombi.-

nation with a detonator carrier anda pin movable lengthwise' `o: thefuse, of means` for locking the lperte to ther for rojectile and forreleasing such parts mV each vother on such movement, means for holdingone of the parte against movement rearwardly after impact, and 'meansfor causing rearward movement of the other part a ter impact. A

' 32. In a .fuse for a projectile, the combination with aA detonatorcarrier and a firing pin movable lengthwise of the fuse, of means forlocking the parts together for forward movement on impact of the proinge noisit 'one of the parte against movement reen wardly after impact andmeans operable on a decrease of deceleration of the projectile Yafter imact to cause rearward movement of the o er part.

88. In a fuse for a projectile, the combination with'a detonatorcarrierand 'a firing pin movable lengthwisev of the fuse, of means for normallylocking the parte against movement and releasing them rior to im act ofthe projectile, means for oeking e parts together for forward movementon impact and for releasing such ports from each other on such movement,and means for holding one of the parte against movement rearwardly afterim act.

34:. In a fuse for a projecti e, the oombination with a detonatorcarrier and a ring pin movable lengthwise of the fuse, of means lornormally locking the parte against movement and releasing them rior toim act of the projectile, means for ook parts together` for, forwardmovementon impact and for releasing such parts from each other-onsuchmovement, means for holding one of the parte against movementrearwardly after impact, and means for causing rearward movement of theother part after-impact.

35. In a. fuse for a projectile, the combi nation with a detonatorcarrier and a liring pin movable lengthwise of the fuse, of means fornormally locking the parts against movement `and releasing them rior tonn act of the projectile, means for oekmg e parte together for forwardmovement upon im )act and for `releasing such parte from eac other onsuch movement, means for holding one of the parts against movementrearwardly after' impact, and means operable on a decrease ofdeceleratron-of the projectile after impact to canse rearward movementVof the other part.

36. In acpojectile, the combination of an explosive rge, and a fusetherefor oomprxeingla detonator normali located in a safe 'tion inrespect to e char but mov n into o erative relation wit said charge ond' erationo the projectile, and a vfiring mechanism for the detonatorenergized by deceleration of the projectile, and movable to eli'eot yanexplosion on a, subsequent decreaee of the deceleration of thepro'ectile.

igned at Flushing, Long Island, New York, thin 4th day of October, 1917.

FRANK DESMOND SPRAGUE. PHILIP WHALLEY ALLISON.

llV'itneeses.v

Dono'mr Howlmo Rooms Semoun, R. R. FULLER.

